What's going on at Church of the Cross?  Check out the following headlines adapted from The Reporter, our monthly newsletter.  For news about our United Methodist Youth Fellowship, see this month's Youth activities page.

• Christian comedian to perform on September 22

The Youth of Church of the Cross are proud to announce that they have arranged for Charles Marshall to bring his clean, laugh-till-it-hurts comedy to our church sanctuary at 7:00 pm on Saturday, September 22. Tickets are $7 in advance, and $10 at the door. Tickets can be purchased on Sunday morning in the lobby behind the sanctuary. Or, call in an order to our church office at 293-7651 and stop by between 9-5 weekdays to pay for them and pick them up. Ask about special group rates.
 

• New Members Class on September 15 & 22

Pastor John Whitaker will be teaching a New Members Class on two Saturday mornings from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. The September 15 class will include teachings concerning salvation and the movement of grace; the September 22 class will cover United Methodist beliefs, history and organization. The class will meet in the Parlor. Contact Pastor John or the church office if you would like to attend the class. Taking the class does not obligate you to join Church of the Cross. If you want to learn more about your faith and United Methodism, please consider attending. Those who desire to join Church of the Cross can do so on September 30 during either worship service.

• Fall Clean-Up Day

Do you have four hours to help beautify your church? There’s a task for everyone. You don’t have to be “handy” or experienced—just willing to work.  Join us on Saturday, September 8, from 8:00 am till noon.

• Annual picnic on the 16th

The Church of the Cross’ Annual Picnic is here again.  On Sunday, September 16, from 12:30 until everyone is too full and too tired to move, we will be gathering for food, fun, and fellowship. Our picnic is at Indian Riffle Park again this year, but this time we will be in Shelter 2. This is the shelter that is closest to the playground and is wheelchair accessible.  Games, including corn hole, will be provided by the Youth.

• Tour the Holy Land in 2008

Our trip to Israel has been finalized. We will go on the Holy Land via Jordan 2008 tour which includes the lost city of Petra. Our ten day Holy Land trip begins on February 17, 2008. The total cost per person based on double occupancy from Dayton is $2658. Payment is due 90 days before the trip begins.  Sites we will visit include Jericho, Qumran, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth, Cana, the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum.

If you are interested speak with Pastor John or pick up a brochure from the Mission Bulletin Board. This trip is a way to build your faith and enhance your ability to visualize the Bible. Pastor John will serve as host for the trip with his lovely wife, Mary Lynn, also attending. There are 19 people who are signed up for the trip with several others still considering.  If you don't already have your passport, now is the time to apply for one.

• Would you like to share your gift of music?

The Chancel Choir is open to anyone from high school on up and new members are always welcome.  They rehearse at 7:15 pm on Thursdays, starting Sept. 6, and sing at our 11:00 service.  The Praise Team performs at our contemporary service and rehearses from 9:45 am to noon on Saturdays.  If you are interested in joining the Praise Team, call Sarah Miller.  The Youth Choir (grades 6 - 12) rehearses at 5 pm on Sundays starting Sept. 23.  The Handbell Choir rehearses at 4 pm on Sundays.  New for this year, Kingdom Kids offers music, rhythm and motion activities for kids ages 5 through fifth grade.

• New adult study offered

The Church, Then and Now is the title of a 15-week Bible study to be offered starting September 9. It is a study on I Corinthians led by Dick Wright on Sunday evenings from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Mark your calendars now and plan to take advantage of this opportunity. Please register for the class by contacting Dick Wright.

• Changes for children's Sunday School

On Sunday, September 2, we will be making a few changes in our Sunday school program. At 9:30 all children who are 4 or 5, that are not in Kindergarten this Fall, will be in a new Sunday school class taught by Sheryl Kent and Sarah McElfresh. This class will meet on the World of Love floor in Room 104. This class is replacing the class that meets at 11:00 as we have more children at the 9:30 Sunday school hour.  We still need one more children's teacher at 9:30 and one more at 11:00; remember that men are also welcome to volunteer.

• Calling all parents

If you have a child in kindergarten through 5th grade, we need you. We want to start a Children’s Adventure Club. What is Children’s Adventure Club? It is a way to get our children together for fun and fellowship. Our children come from all over the Miami Valley area and it is hard to get to know each other just on Sunday mornings. It would be great to see us take one Saturday, for example the 3rd Saturday of every month, and get our children together. We can do something at the church, like a make-your-own-taco bar and play games; we could have a wet and wild day and play games that get us wet; an Un-Birthday Party….or we could go bowling, skating, laser tag…or any other fun activity we can think of.

So how do we do this? I am asking that parents sign up to be in charge of a Saturday or two this school year. You will need to help set the theme of the day and what we are going to do. You will not be on your own. Cheryl Wilson will help. And if we need more help will ask others to join the fun.

Please come to an informational meeting on Sunday, September 23, at 9:00 a.m. in the Social Room.

• Staff-Parish committee recommends Phyllis Combs for ordained ministry

Phyllis Combs, our music director, was recommended to the charge conference by the Staff-Parish Relations Committee as a candidate for the ordained ministry as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Phyllis will complete her seminary studies soon. She has been working through a Candidacy Guidebook with Pastor John as her mentor for over a year.  Congratulations, Phyllis!
 

To see a year's worth of archives of this page, visit our Old news page.